challenging

American  

[chal-in-jing] / ˈtʃæl ɪn dʒɪŋ /

adjective

1. offering a challenge; testing one's ability, endurance, etc.

   a challenging course;

   a challenging game.

2. stimulating, interesting, and thought-provoking.

   a challenging suggestion.

3. provocative; intriguing.

   a challenging smile.

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ˈchallenging British  

/ ˈtʃælɪndʒɪŋ /

adjective

1. demanding or stimulating

   a challenging new job

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Other Word Forms

• challengingly adverb
• nonchallenging adjective
• unchallenging adjective

Etymology

Origin of challenging

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, as a gerund; 1835–45 for sense of "testing one's ability"; challenge ( def. ), -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Is it an unnatural way of challenging for a high ball?

From BBC

Taiwan’s headline PMI continued to move closer to the neutral 50.0 mark, suggesting that the sector has worked through most of the current challenging period, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We are facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history," he said in an address to the nation.

From Barron's

France ended their turgid November campaign with a lacklustre 48-33 win over the Wallabies after failing to live up to expectations as a swashbuckling side capable of challenging the world's best under coach Fabien Galthie.

From Barron's

Securing such observations is challenging because time on major telescopes is highly competitive.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• ambitious
• arduous
• burdensome
• crucial
• demanding
• laborious
• onerous
• painful
• problematic
• severe
• strenuous
• tough
• troublesome